Beau’s Pride attending Desert Dash
Thursday 19 October 2023
Desert Lion Conservation are enormously honoured and proud to be associated with the altruistic initiative by Beau van der Westuizen’s family to support the research and conservation of Namibia’s uniquely desert-adapted lions of Namibia. Beau’s love for life and, in particular, the Desert lions along the Skeleton Coast has left and enduring mark on the people around him. The legacy of Beau will remain forever embedded in the work and commitment of the Desert Lion Conservation project. It is our hope and belief that Beau’s Legacy will inspire people for generations to come.
We are proud to support the “Desert Lion Conservation Team” participating in the 2023 Nedbank Desert Dash cycling race, and we will all be there to cheers and welcome the riders when they arrive in Swakopmund on the morning of 9 December 2023.
“Go Team DLC!”
link to the press release:
SUPPORTING THE DESERT LION CONSERVATION - A PLEDGE TO PROTECT THE NAMIB'S ICONS
| Beau's Pride recently received their official cycling gear for the Nedbank 2023 Desert Dash cycling competition from 8-9 December 2023. The symbolic lion head and paws are a reminder of Beau van der Westhuizen's love, admiration and passion for the desert lion. | Beau's Pride - fltr: Johan Liebenberg; Dewald Nell; Bibi Cornelissen, and Fanie Britz. The team has called for action businesses, companies and individuals to support the work of the Desert Lion Conservation project through pledges and donations. |
| In honor of the young Beau van der Westhuizen's love and passion for the kings and queens of the Namib, the desert lion, the team has been putting in many hours and kilometers of training for the Nedbank 2023 Desert Dash on the 8th and 9th of December 2023. | In honor of the young Beau van der Westhuizen's love and passion for the kings and queens of the Namib, the desert lion, the team has been putting in many hours and kilometers of training for the Nedbank 2023 Desert Dash on the 8th and 9th of December 2023 |
The “Terrace Male” (Xpl-68) – another extraordinary individual.
BEAU’S PRIDE
In the heart of the Namib desert, where the endless golden sands whisper tales of time, lives the spirit of a young soul named Beau van der Westhuizen. Just a few days shy of celebrating his sixteenth birthday (on 12 November 2022), Beau's life was tragically cut short on Thursday, the 3rd of November 2022 by a relentless adversary - cancer. But the story of Beau is not one of sorrow; it is a story of a remarkable young spirit who left an indelible mark on the people who loved and cherished him.
Beau was not your typical teenager. He possessed a humility that belied his years, and his heart was as vast and gentle as the dunes that stretched beyond the horizon. However, what truly set Beau apart was his profound admiration and unwavering respect for the kings and queens of the desert - the endangered desert lions.
From a young age, Beau was captivated by these majestic creatures that called the Namib desert their home. He was drawn to their resilience, their beauty, and their unyielding spirit in the face of adversity. For Beau, the desert lions were not just majestic animals; they were symbols of strength, endurance, and the undying connection between humans and the natural
world.
In honour of Beau's deep love for these endangered desert lions, a group of four dedicated cyclists who call themselves “Beau’s Pride”: Johan Liebenberg; Dewald Nel; Fanie Britz, and Bibi Cornelissen – the only female of the group and close friend of Beau - will embark on a courageous and heartfelt mission to partake in the gruelling annual Nedbank Desert Dash cycling competition, starting Friday, 8 December 2023 from the Grove Mall in Windhoek.
This, however, won’t just be any race; this is a race with a purpose, a race with a cause that transcends the finish line.
As they’ll pedal through the unforgiving terrain of the Namib desert, each stroke of the pedal will be a testament to Beau's legacy. The arduous journey stretching 397km won’t just be about conquering miles; it is about conquering the challenges that the desert lions face every day - habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the constant struggle for survival.
But why the desert lions, you may wonder? Why dedicate such an endeavour to these majestic creatures? The answer is simple yet profound. Beau saw in the desert lions a reflection of our own interconnectedness with the natural world. He understood that protecting these lions meant safeguarding the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. It means preserving the very soul of the Namib desert - an ancient and awe-inspiring landscape that has
endured for millennia.
So, as Beau’s Pride will race against the elements, they’ll do so with Beau's spirit riding alongside them. They will ride not only for his memory but for a future where the desert lions continue to roam freely, where their majestic roars echo through the dunes, and where the world's oldest desert remains a sanctuary for all life it cradles.
Now, the call goes out to you - to stand with us, to support the cause of the desert lion, and to honour Beau's beautiful legacy. Together, we can ensure that his passion lives on, that his dream of a world where humans and nature coexist harmoniously and becomes a reality. Join us in this journey, not as spectators, but as participants in a profound mission. Together, we can write a new chapter in the story of Namibia's desert lions, a chapter where hope, dedication, and the enduring spirit of Beau van der Westhuizen shine brightly in the heart of the desert.
Team members: Johann Liebenberg - Fanie Britz - Bibi Cornelissen - Dewald Nel
